Mariner scouts checking out available pitching

Well, it’s July 25, which means the trading deadline is one week away.

And that means the pressure is building on some teams to add talent and on others to unload it.

For the Mariners, who have been sellers more than buyers in recent years, it means they have their top scouts out looking at pieces the club can pick up.

With the White Sox potentially ready to unload one of three pitchers (Jon Garland, Javier Vazquez and/or Jose Contreras), the Mariners have been attending Chicago games religiously in recent days. Contreras pitches Wednesday night, and his 5-12 record makes him more than expendable, although he’s arguably not close to the pitcher he once was.

On top of that, one of the Mariner scouts was watching Florida in Arizona Monday night to see how well Dontrelle Willis pitched (another loss; he’s 7-10 witha 5.15 ERA). Now the Marlins says Willis really isn’t available, but nobody really believes that.

The lefty former wonder child hasn’t won since May, and he’s going to break the bank, relatively speaking, in salary arbitration for a $30 million payroll team that is facing another huge contract issue (Miguel Cabrera) in the near future.

Apparently the Mariners checked out Livan Hernandez of the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He gave up one run in seven innings and is 5-6, 4.59.

And the Mariners have been dropping in on the Astros of late, probably to try and pry one of the Houston relievers (they’re all available save for closer Brad Lidge) away, but wouldn’t it be something if lefty Wandy Rodriguez (6-9 but witha 4.46 ERA for a 15 games under .500 team) could be pried free?